Tube closure



July 23, 1935. J. R. sHEl-:HY 2,009,027

TUBE CLOSURE Filed Sept. 27, 1954 Inventor Attomey Patented July 2s, 1935 I l 2,009,027;

UNITED STATES .PATENTY OFFICE n Y Y 2,009,027v y Y Tone oLosUiiE i James R. Sheehy, Orlando, Ela. Application September 27, 1934, Serial No. 745,806 li Claims. (Cl. 2321-60) V'This invention relates to new and useful, imthe port I3 is uncovered for dispensing theconprovements in yautomaticclosures for the diS- tents of the tube. f chargeorice of compressible tubes utilized for When the pressureY is f released, the closure vending toothpaste, cream, and like substances. member and neck valve are forced downwardly 5 An object 0f this invention is te provide a e10- to respectively close the porty I3 and the neck sure device asabove described, which operates aperture Iii, by the r flex` action of kthe lcoil automatically when pressure on the tube is i'espring I5. v j leased, to seal the outlet, and which will main- The lugs i8 depending vfrom theneck valve I'lY tain its sealed position when the tube is not in are adapted te maintam the same in registered 10 LlSe S0 as t0 prevent accidentel diSCharge Oi the alinement with the neck portion when the valve contents thereof. has risen upwardly into the discharge chamber A further object of this device is to furnish an Il, and t@ furnish guide means thereto on its automatic closure that is so constructed that the downward journey when the pressure is released, contents of the tube are kept free of 'the mechathus preventing fouling of the mechanism on the l5 fiiSm S0' that the probability 0f fouling 0f the upper lip of the neck portion as is clearly shown same and therebycontaminating the contents is in Figure 2, lessened. The usual method of uncovering the discharge Various other objects and advantages Of the orice is to have the tube contents directly bear invention will become apparent from the ollowagainsi-l the inner faee of the Closure valve for 2O ing deSCi-"IJOH and reference t0 the eCCOmDeDY- imparting upward motion thereto, but there is, 20 ing drawing wherein: in such devices, a tendency for the contents to Figure 1 iS e fragmentary' eieveiai View, squeeze between the side Walls and the closure partly in Section, Showing the VeliVe in EL CiOSed member and thus impair the eicient operation position. of the closure valve. In the present device this Figure 2 is a similar view showing the valve in tendency is greany lessened because the Closure 25 an 013en EOS'GOIL valve is not moved upward by direct pressure Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially from the tube Coni-,ents on the line 3-3 0f Figure 1- The tube contents first bear against the neck Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially valve or bams plate |1 and as the same moves 0n the line li-fi 0f Figure 1. upwardly within the neck portion, the motion is Describing the invention in detail,the reference communicated to the dosare member sa that, numeral 9 designates a conventional compressible when the Contents have reached the top of the tube body having the integral neck iii Which tei" neck, the discharge port I3 is entirely uncovered minates in a relatively larger discharge chamber and the contents are free to pass therethrough.

I I provided with an lmperforate end Wall l2 and In general the inner facs of the Closure member a lateral emission orifice or port I3 adjacent the acts more in the nature of a guide means for the Closed end thefeoftube contents on their journey to the port I3 Disposed Within the discharge Chamber. is a rather than a direct pressure receiving face. circular closure member or valve Ifi. A coil spring From this it will be Seen that in the present i5, anchored at on@ end to the end Wall of the case, the squeezing of the material between the Chamber normaiiy urges the Closure member m closure valve and the side walls of the discharge downwardly and holds the same in position to Chamber and the consequent fouling of the seal the Once i3 mechanism is practically eliminated because the Connected toi the clolsme member through the pressure of the contents as they reach the closure medium of lts Stem is 1S a' pressure head or plate member has been lessened and the discharge ori- I and uislglle'nclveggurgeglgacgd Q fice provides an outlet suicient to' relieve any pending mds I3 engaging in the bore of the neck appreciable stress directed against the closure In operation, when the tube body is subjected Va j to pressure, the contents force the neck valve 1i? iS t0 be understood that the paftlcuia'i' em' 50 n upwardly and the pressure direeted againstl bodiment of the invention disclosed herein is of this valve is communicated to the cut-off or an illustrative and not restrictive character and closure member I4, through the medium of the that variations and modications may be'made rigid connecting bar I6. Thereby an upward with respect thereto as properly fall within the movement is imparted to the closure member and scope of the appended claims. 55

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible container comprising a compressible body merging into a discharge chamber having a lateral dispensing orifice or port, a closure valve slidably mounted Within said chamber, resilient means normally holding the valve in position to cover the port, and a pressure head connected with said valve to move the same in opposition to the resilient means to uncover the Dort.

2. A compressible tube, a neck portion terminating in a discharge chamber of relatively large diameter having a lateral dispensing port therein, a valve member slidably mounted within said chamber, resilient means normally holding the member in position to seal the dispensing port, a pressure head normally disposed Within said neck and connected with the valve member to move the same in opposition to the resilient means to uncover the dispensing port.

3. In combination with a c'ompressible tube, a neck portion terminating in a relatively large discharge chamber having a lateral dispensing orifice therein, a circular closure member slidably mounted within said chamber, a. coil spring normally urging the member downwardly and holding the same in position to seal the discharge orifice, a pressure head normally disposed within said neck and adapted to rise above the coniines of the same into the discharge chamber, guide means carried by the head to retain the same in registered alinement With the said neck, and means connecting the said head with the closure member to move the same in opposition to the spring to uncover the orifice.

4. A compressible. dispensing tube, a neck therefor, a discharge chamber integral with the neck, and in alinement therewith, said chamber having its outer end closed and also provided with a lateral orice intermediate its ends, a closure member for said. oriiice slidably mounted within said chamber, a coil spring anchored at one end to the closed end of the chamber and having its free end engaging the said member to yieldably retain the same in position to close the orifice, a pressure actuated head disposed within the neck portion and adapted to rise beyond the coniines of the same into the discharge chamber and connecting with said closure member to impart upward motion thereto in opposition to the coil spring and uncover the said orice, and circumferentially spaced depending guide lugs carried by said head for retaining the same 1n registered alinement With the neck portion as the pressure decreases.

JAMES R. SHEEHY. 

